Electric cable connector



Jan. 3l, 1961 l. s. BLONDER 2,970,184

ELECTRIC CABLE CONNECTOR Filed March 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fay 4INVENTOR.

Arrozym Jam 31 19.51 s. BLONDE-R 2,970,184

ELECTRIC CABLE CONNECTOR Filed March 5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fg, f

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Patented Jan. 31, 1961 ELECTRIC CABLE COJNNECTOR lsaac S. Blender, WestOrange, NJ., assigner to Blendern Tongue Electronics, a corporation ofNew .lersey Filed Mar. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 719,325'

8 Claims. (Cl. 174-88) The present invention relates to electrical cableconnectors, and more specifically, to connectors that are particularlyadapted for use with coaxial-line cables and the like.

As described in my copending application, Serial No. 574,906, tiledMarch 29, 1956, for Transmission-Line Connector, it is frequentlyimportant to provide a transmission-line connector that can be quicklyand reliably applied to or removed from the line, preferably Without thenecessity for solder joints or other time-consuming connectingstructures. While the said copending application discloses apparatusparticularly suited for such purposes as providing male and femalecoaxial connectors, it is important to provide, also, for other types ofconnection, such as splice-connections between two sections of coaxialcable.

lt is with this last problem that the present invention is primarilyconcerned, though an object of the invention is to provide -a novelconnector of more general utility, as well.

A further object is to provide -a new and improved solderless connectorwherein, in summary, the use of a single appropriate conductive body forreceiving and aligning the transmissioneline cable and one or morestaples may effect rapid, reliable and inexpensive solderlessconnection.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims:

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, Fig. l of which is a perspective view of a preferredsplice-connector constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary transverse and longitudinal sections,respectively, taken along the lines 2 2 and 3)*3 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

Figs. 4 through 7 are views similar to Fig. 3 of modifications.

A pair of coaxial transmission-line cable sections A and B are shown inFig. 1 each having innerconductors El', outer coaxial sheath, braid orother conductors 3, 3 separated therefrom by cylindrical polyethelene orother insulation spacers 5, 5'; and an outer Vinyl or other insulationcovering 7, 7. The cable sections Aand B are shown received withinopenings 9, 9 at opposite ends of a generally cylindrical conductivebody ll, which openings are preferably only sufficiently large toreceive the cables A and B snugly, in order to align the same withoutappreciable play. It has been found that in such cables as, for example,type RG59U andthe like, an extension of the inner cable conductors l orl', respectively, may be inserted between the inner surface of theinsulation 5 or 5 land the inner conductor l. or 1 of the other cablesection, alongside and in contact with the inner conductor ll or l', asmore particularly shown at 2 and 2 in Fig. 3. This solderless connectionor engagement of the inner conductors 1 and 1 may be effected with thebody il pushed back along one only of the cable sections A or B, afterwhich the body 11 may be slid ove1 the connection, as illustrated inFig. l.

Electrical connection between the outer and usually grounded conductors5 and 5' of the cable sections A and B is effected, in accordance withthe present invention, with the aid of staples or hasps 13 preferablyU-shaped and of square cross-section, though other configurations mayalso be employed, as later explained. The arms 15 of the staples 13 arepreferably pointed at their free ends and are separated or transverselyspaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the inner cableconductor 1 or i and less than the outer diameter of the coaxiallydisposed outer conductor 3 or 3 for a reason also later evident. Thearms 15 of the staples 13 are received within correspondingly spacedpairs of apertures 17 on the surface of the body 1l, on opposite sidesof the spliced cables A and B. Since the cable sections are held alignedWithin the body 1l, the arms 15 of the staples 13 will symmetricallypenetrate the outer conductors 3 and 3', as more particularlyillustrated in Fig. 2, preferably embedding in the outer covering '7 atthe bottom thereof. lf the arms l5 have at least portions ofcross-dimension slightly larger than that of the openings i7, as whenthe openings i7' are substantially circular and the staple arms l5 areof appropriately dimensioned square cross-section, the arms l5 will biteinto the material of the body il bounding the apertures i7 and locktherein as the staples i3 are inserted. Not only will excellentelectrical con nection be thus simply and rapidly established betweenthe outer conductors 3 and 3 of the cable sections A and B, but `abalanced and strong mechanical junction Will also be established.

For splicing cables of different diameter, such as A and B in Fig. 4,the conductive body may be formed in correspondingly shaped portions llland 1l. The connector of Fig. 4 may be useful, for example, whensplicing types RGllU and RG59U cable sections A' and B, respectively.Where an inner conductor extension 2 is not sufhciently rigid orotherwise appropriately adapted, moreover, a separate inner-conductortapered connector plug may be provided, as at 20, Fig. 5, for insertioninto the inner conductors l, i' of the cable sections A', B. This is ofparticular utility with type RGl 1U cables having multi-stranded innerconductors ll, 1.

The same connection construction may also be applied to other types ofconnections such as, for example, the terminating of a cable with anappropriate impedance R. The body lll. again receives the stapled cableA within the opening 9", Fig. 6, and the terminating-impedance R isreceived within a recess 25. The impedance R may be connected byinserting the terminal lead 22 thereof adjacent the cable innerconductor i, as before described, and wedging the other terminal lead 24by a conductive pin 26 inserted within a transverse `aperture 28 in thebody il that communicates with the interior recess 25.

ln Fig. 7, furthermore, a female connector may be pro vided, byinserting the extension 2 of the inner conductor l of the cable Bthrough apertured transverse insulating spacers Sti, 32, as of Bakeliteor the like. The spacers Bti and 32 may be held within the body 1li bydimples 27 therein, and the spacer 32 may support a contact cylinder il@to which the inner conductor extension 2 may be connected in any desiredmanner. Again, as in the case of the other embodiments of the invention,the staple 13 secures the cable section B that is inserted within thebody il.

Further modiiications will occur to those skilled in the art and allsuch vare considered to fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A connector splicing two sections of a coaxial cable each havinginner and outer conductors insulated from one another and an outerinsulation covering, the connector comprising a conductive cylindricalbody having openings at opposite ends receiving and aligning the twosections of cable and two longitudinally spaced pairs of apertures, theapertures of each pair being transversely spaced apart on the surface ofthe connector a distance greater than the diameter of the innerconductor and less than the outer diameter of the outer conductor o-fthe corresponding section of cable, and a pair of U-shaped staples, oneinserted within each pair of apertures, and each stapleV having at leasta portion of the a-rms thereof of cross-dimension slightly larger thanthat of the apertures inserted within the apertures into the said outerinsulation land outer conductor of the corresponding section of cable,the inner conductors of the cable sections engaging one another withinthe said body.

2. A connector splicing two sections of a coaxial cable each havinginner and outer conductors insulated from one 'anothery and an outerinsulation covering, the connector comprising a conductive cylindricalbody having openings at opposite ends receiving and aligning the twosections of cable and two longitudinally spaced pairs of apertures, theapertures of each pair being transversely spaced apart on the surface ofthe connector a distance greater than the diameter of the innerconductor and less than the outer diameter of the outer conductor of thecorresponding section of cable, and a pair of U-shaped staples, oneinserted within each pair of apertures, and each staple having at leasta portion of the arms thereof of cross-dimension slightly larger thanthat of the apertures inserted within the apertures into the said outerinsulation and outer conductor of the corresponding section of cable,the inner conductor of at least one of the cable sections being insertedalongside the inner conductor of the' other cable section within thesaid body.

3. A connector splicing two sections of a coaxial cable each havinginner and outer conductors insulated from one another and an outerinsulation covering, the conhector comprising a conductive cylindricalbody having openings` at' opposite ends receiving and aligning the twosectionsY of cable andl two longitudinally spaced pairs of apertures,the apertures of each pair being transversely spaced apart on thesurface of the connector a distance greater than the diameter of theinner conductor and less than the4 outer diameter of the outer conductorof the correspon-ding section of cable and aY pair of U-shaped staples,one inserted within eachY pair of apertures, and each staple having atleast a portion of the arms thereof of cross-'dimension slightly largerthan that of the aperturesA inserted within the apertures into the saidouter insulation and onter conducto-r of the corresponding sectionofcable, and' means for connecting the inner conductors of thev cablesections together within the said body.

4. A connector in combination with aV coaxial cable having innerY andouter conductors insulated from one another and an outer insulationcovering, the connector comprising a conductive cylindrical body havinganopening at one end receiving and aligning the cable and a pair ofapertures transversely spaced apart on the surface of the connector adistance greater than the diameter of the inner conductor and less thanthe outer diameter of the outer conductor, and a staple having at leasta portion of the arms thereof of cross-dimension slightly largerthanthat of the apertures locked within the same with the arms ofthestaple insertedwithin the apertures into the said outer insulation andouter conductor of the cable, the body having a recess for receiving alineterminating impedance with one terminal of the impedance engagingthe inner conductor of the cable within the body and means forconnecting the other terminal of the impedance to the said body.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 4 and in which the last-namedconnecting means comprises a conductive piu wedged within a furtheraperture in the said body into contact with the said other terminal ofthe impedance.

6. A connector in combination with a coaxial cable having inner andouter conductors insulated from one another and an outer insulationcovering, the connector comprising a conductive cylindrical body havingan opening at one end receiving and aligning the cable and a pair ofapertures transversely spaced apart on the surface of the connector adistance greater than the diameter of the inner conductor and less thanthe outer diameter of the outer conducto-r, and a staple having armsinserted within the apertures into the said outer insulation andI outerConductor of the cable, the body having a recess for receiving aline-terminating impedance with one terminal of the impedance engagingthe inner conductor of the cable within thebody andmeans for connectingthe other terminal of the impedance to the said body.

7. A- connector in combination with a coaxial cable having inne-rv and'outer conductors insulated from one another and an outer insulationcovering, the connector comprising a conductive cylindrical body havingan opening at one end receiving and aligning the cable and a pair ofapertures transversely spaced apartA on the surface of the connector adistance greater'than the diameter of the inner conductor and less thanthe outer diameter of the outer conductor, and a staple havingf at leasta portionof the arms thereof of cross-dimension slightly larger thanthatof tlieapertures lockedA within the same with the of the-stapleinsertedWithin the apertures into the said outer insulation and outer conductorof the cable, the bo'dy havingv an apertured` transverse insulatingspacer means supporting aninner-conductor contact member exposedat theother e'nd of the body, and means for securing the inner conductor ofthe cabley to the contaetfmember.

8. A connector in combination with a coaxial cable having inner andouter conductors insulated from one anotherand anouterinsulationcovering, the connector comprising a conductivecylindrical body having an openingV atf one end receiving and aligningthe cable and a pair of apertures transversely spaced apart on thesurfacev of theY cenn'ectora distance greater than the diameter of theinner conductor and lessthan the outer diameter of the outer conductor,and a staple having arms inserted within the apertures into the said:outer'insulat-ion and outer conduct'or `of the cable,- the body havingan apertured trans# verse insulating spacer means supporting aninner-conductor contact member exposedvat theother endof the body, andmeans for securing the inner conductor of the cable to the contactmember.

